PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Yesterday, Chicago held a historic election that elected our new Mayor, Rahm Emanuel. Voters also demonstrated the strength and value of the Pro-Chicago agenda.

Because of your support 100% of the 20 members of the Jobs & Growth Caucus won their Aldermanic elections. In addition, 35 out of 36 of CCC PAC’s endorsed candidates either won their elections or are heading to a runoff. Now four of the Jobs & Growth Caucus members are heading into a run-off election on April 5, 2011, after winning a plurality of votes in their respective wards.

Help us support the Jobs & Growth Caucus by investing in Pro-Chicago today. Your investment of $5,000, $2,500, $1,000 is needed immediately to help our candidates. Please make your contribution now and show us that you are Pro-Chicago!

YOUR MEMBERSHIP @ WORK

The Illinois House returns to Springfield this week; the Senate is not in session. With House committee members newly appointed by both party caucuses, numerous committee meetings are scheduled. (Read the full article for some of the pending bills that the Chicagoland Chamber will be weighing in on during this week’s hearings.) Rep. John Bradley continues as the chair of the Revenue and Finance Committee, as does Rep. Ken Dunkin as chair of the Tourism and Conventions Committee. Rep. LaShawn Ford has been named chair of the new Small Business Empowerment & Workforce Development Committee, and has reached out to the Chicagoland Chamber for ideas in developing his agenda.

By leveraging our extensive network of state and local chambers along with three million business affiliates, we hope to create an environment in which thousands of our nation's heroes can find second careers in their home states and local communities.

Our event will take place on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at the downtown Hyatt Regency hotel. The USCC is joining with the Illinois and Chicagoland Chambers of Commerce along with the McCormick Foundation and the Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Committee on this important initiative that we hope you will participate in as an employment partner at the job fair.